Joshua Spencer

With thanks to @journalistjon.bsky.social for the commission and edit. Read his excellent Briefing on the rich world's great relationship recession www.economist.com/briefing/202...

A new industry of AI companions is emerging It may have profound implications for society and what it means to be human

As AI companions become ubiquitous and useful in making choices for their human overlords, what will become of human agency? My piece in this week's @economist.com looks at a booming new industry www.economist.com/internationa...

The man with a plan for Vietnam A Communist Party hard man has to rescue Asia’s great success story

Our cover leader argues that To Lam, the Communist Party’s boss, has to rescue Asia’s great success story. Thankfully, he has an acute sense of his country’s challenges
economist.com/leaders/2025...

Vietnam, squeezed between America and China, looks for new friends It might even try to invigorate ASEAN

@connellyal.bsky.social covers Vietnam’s delicate diplomatic balancing act
economist.com/briefing/202...

Vietnam’s economy is booming, but its new leader is worried Export-led growth may soon run out of steam

This piece is part of an excellent package on Vietnam in this week’s issue. @ethanywu.bsky.social writes about the booming economy—which may soon run out of steam
economist.com/briefing/202...

Vietnam’s diaspora is shaping the country their parents fled As well as sending remittances, many are returning to their homeland

Fifty years ago, tens of thousands fled Vietnam as the war ended. In the years since many have returned. Now their children are coming back, too. For this week’s issue of @economist.com I wrote about how these returnees are shaping Vietnam’s development
economist.com/asia/2025/05...

Vietnam’s diaspora is shaping the country their parents fled As well as sending remittances, many are returning to their homeland

Finally, one of my favorite articles in the package is this look by @joshuajspencer.bsky.social at how Vietnam's diaspora returnees are shaping the country's future.

With thanks to @newshound16.bsky.social, reporting with me in Manila

Trump meets Syria’s leader and lifts sanctions Also on the daily podcast: fraught Philippine elections and meet the V-Tubers

The Dutertes came out on top in the Philippines’ midterms—a proxy battle between powerful political dynasties. I reported on their bitter feud with the Marcos's for today’s episode of The Intelligence

Highly recommended. 👇

With American credibility in doubt, minds go back to Saigon in 1975 A look at the way The Economist covered the end of the Vietnam war

Fifty years ago, Saigon fell and the Vietnam war ended. America's chaotic evacuation raised doubts about its credibility, The Economist wrote at the time. Sound familiar? My piece this week www.economist.com/interactive/...

Executive disorder: Trump’s first 100 days | The Intelligence from The Economist

Also, on today’s episode of The Intelligence, I spoke with the returning Vietnamese diaspora. Many have come back to Vietnam in the years since they—or their parents—fled in 1975 shows.acast.com/theintellige...

With American credibility in doubt, minds go back to Saigon in 1975 A look at the way The Economist covered the end of the Vietnam war

This isn’t the first time America’s credibility as an ally has been questioned.

50 years ago today Saigon fell, the Vietnam war ended and American pride took a big hit.

My piece looks at The Economist’s coverage from April 1975. Much of it will sound familiar. www.economist.com/interactive/...

With American credibility in doubt, minds go back to Saigon in 1975 A look at the way The Economist covered the end of the Vietnam war

This isn’t the first time America’s credibility as an ally has been questioned.

50 years ago today Saigon fell, the Vietnam war ended and American pride took a big hit.

My piece looks at The Economist’s coverage from April 1975. Much of it will sound familiar. www.economist.com/interactive/...

With American credibility in doubt, minds go back to Saigon in 1975 A look at the way The Economist covered the end of the Vietnam war

Fifty years ago, Saigon fell and the Vietnam war ended. America's chaotic evacuation raised doubts about its credibility, The Economist wrote at the time. Sound familiar? My piece this week www.economist.com/interactive/...

For decades the War Remains Museum in Ho Chi Minh City has shown only exhibits on US imperialism and atrocities. A new exhibit would have showcased the US-Vietnamese reconciliation process. But Trump shut down USAID and the US Institute of Peace, which created it. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/w...

Scam Inc from The Economist: Trailer: Scam Inc A sophisticated, predatory, multi-billion dollar industry is emerging from the shadows. It is already more lucrative than the illicit drug trade. And it’s about to get bigger and much more powerf...

For the past year, I've been investigating the global rise of online scams - a predatory, multi-billion dollar industry that rivals the size of the illicit drug trade. Scam Inc, a new 8-part podcast from The Economist and hosted by me, is out in February: econ.st/3CoAdxJ

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